Oral health composition comprising purified biosurfactants and/or their derivatives

Abstract

The present invention provides microbe-based products, as well as methods of their production and use, in oral health compositions. More specifically, the present invention provides materials and methods for enhancing and/or maintaining oral health using topical oral health compositions comprising microbial growth by-products, specifically, biosurfactants.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for treating a gum disease, gingivitis and/or periodontal disease in a subject's oral cavity, the method comprising applying a composition consisting essentially of a purified sophorolipid component and a mannosylerythritol lipid to microbial biofilm that is present on a surface of the subject's oral cavity in need of said treatment, wherein said sophorolipid component comprises at least 70% by weight of an acidic form sophorolipid, and wherein the application of said composition causes removal of said biofilm, wherein said biofilm comprises  Porphyromonas  gingiva/is. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human or a domesticated animal. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acidic form sophorolipid is an unacetylated acidic sophorolipid, monoacetylated acidic sophorolipid, diacetylated acidic sophorolipid or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microbial biofilm further comprises  Tannerella forsythia  and/or  Treponema denticola.